GB2394936A

GB2394936A - Measuring level of liquid in bottle

Info

Publication number: GB2394936A
Application number: GB0221661A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dorrette Davis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-09-17
Filing date: 2002-09-17
Publication date: 2004-05-12
Anticipated expiration: 2022-09-17
Also published as: GB0221661D0; GB2394936B

Abstract

Liquid measurement apparatus 10 for measuring the level of liquid in a bottle, comprises a first layer of material provided with a scale 14, and a second layer, of an adhesive, for securing the first layer to the bottle 12. The first layer of material may be a flexible strip, and the scale may be calibrated so that an amount of liquid removed from the bottle may be directly measured from it. The adhesive may allow the apparatus to be releasably secured to the bottle. There may also be a collar at one end of the strip for location around the neck of the bottle, Figure 3.

Description

À 2394936

Title: Liquid Measurement Apparatus Description of Invention

5 This invention relates to liquid measurement apparatus. In particular, although not exclusively, this invention relates to apparatus suitable for measuring the level of liquid, particularly potable liquid, in a bottle.

Currently, in most pubs, bars and clubs, individual tots of alcohol are dispensed from bottles using traditional optics. The number of measures, or 10 tots, of each brand of alcohol is recorded at the till and, at the end of an evening, the bar owner can use the till records to, in theory at least, determine his stock levels.

This has highlighted the amount of, often relatively petty, fraud which exists on the industry as bar owners find that the amount of alcohol that they I 5 have sold and the amount which is left does not correlate, often being significantly different.

There is, therefore, a need for improved methods of stock control within the industry.

According to a first aspect of this invention there is provided liquid 20 measurement apparatus for measuring the level of liquid in a bottle comprising a first layer of material provided with a scale, and a second layer, of an adhesive, for securing the first layer to the bottle.

Preferably the first layer of material is flexible. It may comprise a strip.

The scale is conveniently graduated in tots. Preferably the scale is 25 calibrated so that an amount of liquid removed from the bottle may be directly measured from the strip.

The first layer may comprise a plastics material. Alternatively the first layer may comprise a paper material, for example a label onto which the scale may be printed.

The strip may comprise a formation which may be used to secure it to the neck of a bottle.

Conveniently, the first layer is transparent. The adhesive preferably allows the first layer to be releasably secured to a bottle.

5 A bottle may also be provided comprising liquid measurement apparatus as previously described. The bottle conveniently contains a potable liquid.

According to a second aspect of this invention there is provided a method of stock control comprising: providing a bottle having liquid measurement apparatus as previously described; measuring a datum level of 10 liquid in the bottle using the liquid measurement apparatus at the start of a period of time; recording the amount of liquid sold from the bottle over the period of time; measuring the level of liquid in the bottle using the liquid measurement apparatus at the end of the period of time; calculating the amount of liquid removed from the bottle; and comparing: the amount of liquid so 15 calculated with the amount sold.

The bottle conveniently contains a potable liquid, preferably an alcoholic beverage.

Embodiments of this invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 20 FIGURE 1 shows schematically a first embodiment of liquid measurement apparatus; FIGURE 2 shows schematically a section through the embodiment of Figure 1; and FIGURE 3 shows schematically a second embodiment, having a 25 formation. A liquid measurement strip 10, which is narrow in relation to its length, is shown attached to a bottle 12 in Figure 1. The strip 10 is provided with a scale 14, which is calibrated for the particular type of bottle, with two scale marks being spaced a suitable distance apart to indicate the difference in level

represented by one tot of the alcoholic drink contained in the bottle. The scale goes up to the number of tots contained in the bottle.

The type of bottle for which the strip has been calibrated is indicated in a non-measurement portion of the strip. In this case, as shown in Figure 1, the 5 strip has been calibrated for a 500 ml whiskey bottle. In practice the actual brand of whiskey would be indicated on the strip.

The structure of the strip to is shown in Figure 2. It comprises a first layer 20, of a plastics material such as polypropylene, preferably a transparent polypropylene, and a second layer 22, of an adhesive, such as ethyl vinyl 10 alcohol (EVA). Ideally the adhesive allows the measurement strip 10 to be easily removed and then reattached to the same, or another, bottle.

The second layer 22 is shown in Figure 2 as continuous with the base layer 20, but it could extend over one or several small portions of the first layer 20.

The scale 14 is printed onto the first layer 20, but could be inscribed, 15 engraved, or adhered thereon.

The measurement strip 10 is relatively simple to use. The user attaches the bottle 12 to an optic and then peels a backing layer off the measurement strip to. The strip to may then be applied to the bottle, the user aligning a FULL mark 24 on the strip with the level of liquid in the bottle once it has been 20 set up on the optic. The user may also use a datum mark 25, printed for example on the label of the bottle, to align the strip. This prevents fraudulent bar staff re-aligning the strip if they sneak tots from the bottle.

As drinks are dispensed the level in the bottle falls. When convenient the bar owner can compare the amount of drink recorded by the till with the 25 amount withdrawn from the bottle, simply by looking through the transparent plastic strip 10 and noting the level of the liquid in the bottle in relation to the scale 14. No physical contact with the liquid or the bottle is required.

By this means the amount of liquid removed from the bottle can be measured by measuring the level of liquid remaining in the bottle.

A second embodiment of a measurement strip 30 is shown in Figure 3.

This embodiment has an annulus 32 at one end of the strip, the hole 34 in the annulus being sized to surround the neck of a bottle. The hole 34 provides a formation which may be used as a hook to attach the strip to the bottle.

5 This embodiment is particularly suitable for bottles which are not used with optics, but from which drink is dispensed by pouring.

Two small areas of adhesive, 36, 38 enable the strip to be adhered tot he bottle and prevent movement in use.

To attach the strip to a bottle the user places the annulus 32 around the 10 neck of a bottle and aligns a full mark 40 with the level in the bottle. They then adhere the strip 30 to the bottle using the adhesive patches 36, 38.

The reader will appreciate that many variations on this theme are possible once the underlying principles are understood, which nevertheless come within the scope of the invention. For example, the label of the bottle 15 (which is usually made of paper) could provide the measurement strip simply by printing a suitable calibrated scale on it. It is also convenient to have two scales on the strip, one reading from top to bottom and the other reading from bottom to top.

In the present specification "comprise" means "includes or consists of"

20 and "comprising" means "including or consisting of".

Claims

1. Liquid measurement apparatus for measuring the level of liquid in a bottle comprising a first layer of material provided with a scale, and a second 5 layer, of an adhesive, for securing the first layer to the bottle.

2. Liquid measurement apparatus according to Claim l in which the first

layer of material is flexible.

10

3. Liquid measurement apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the first layer of material comprises a strip.

4. Liquid measurement apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the scale is graduated in tots.

5. Liquid measurement apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the scale is calibrated so that an amount of liquid removed from the bottle may be directly measured from it.

20

6. Liquid measurement apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the first layer comprises a plastics material.

7. Liquid measurement apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the first layer comprises a paper material.

8. Liquid measurement apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the strip comprises a formation which may be used to secure it to the neck of a bottle.

9. Liquid measurement apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the first layer is transparent.

10. Liquid measurement apparatus according to any preceding claim in 5 which the adhesive allows the first layer to be releasably secured to a bottle.

11. A bottle comprising liquid measurement apparatus according to any preceding claim.

10

12. A bottle according to Claim 11 which contains a potable liquid.

13. A method of stock control comprising: providing a bottle according to Claims 11 or 12; measuring a datum level of liquid in the bottle using the liquid 15 measurement apparatus at the start of a period of time; recording the amount of liquid sold from the bottle over the period of time; measuring the level of liquid in the bottle using the liquid measurement apparatus at the end of the period of time; 20 calculating the amount of liquid removed from the bottle; and comparing the amount of liquid so calculated with the amount sold.

14. A method according to Claim 13 in which the liquid is a potable liquid.

2S

15. A method according to Claim 14 in which the liquid is an alcoholic beverage.

16. Liquid measurement apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

17. A bottle comprising liquid measurement apparatus substantially as 5 hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

18. A method of stock control substantially as hereinbefore described.